Bolton-by-Bowland
History
In medieval times, it was known as Bolton-in-Bowland, reflecting the shifting boundaries of the ancient Forest of Bowland on whose south east flank the village sits. The manor of Bolton-by-Bowland, however, was not included within the Lordship of Bowland, being a part of the Percy family fee from earliest times.
It is thought that there has been a church on the site of St Peter and St Paul's Church since around 1190.
The village is on Skirden Beck, near its confluence with the River Ribble. The village has a car park, toilet facilities and a tourist information centre, is the starting point for many of the area's walks.
Governance
Bolton-by-Bowland was an ancient parish, part of the Western Division of Staincliffe Wapentake. It became a civil parish, probably in the middle of the 19th century, becoming part of Bowland Rural District when it was formed in 1894. In 1938 an 146-hectare (361-acre) area toward the northern end of the parish, that had formed a detached part of Tosside, was transferred to Bolton-by-Bowland. In 1974 the civil parish was transferred from the West Riding of Yorkshire to the Ribble Valley district of Lancashire.
Bolton-by-Bowland shares a parish council with two other parishes, Sawley and Gisburn Forest. Along with Bowland Forest Low, Slaidburn, Newton-in-Bowland, and Easington, the parish forms the Bowland, Newton and Slaidburn ward of Ribble Valley Borough Council.
